October 2023

Dear Friends,   ODA Architecture’s annual retreat in September was centered on “rejuvenation” as everyone has been working tirelessly through a very productive year. We selected Asheville, NC as our destination and stayed at The Foundry Hotel, which is part of The Curio Collection by Hilton, managed by our client, Raines Hospitality. This repurposed hotel was once a steel […]

Transforming existing structures into hotels has been a popular strategy for many years, but what options do hotel owners have when their properties are no longer in workable use? Unfortunately, the pandemic left countless hotels underutilized or obsolete. Many of these hotels are in changing urban neighborhoods and can be repurposed to suit the needs of their evolving communities.

One of the hottest trends in the hotel industry is repurposing buildings for hotel use. Transforming existing buildings makes economic sense and can enhance the guest experience. Many building types are appropriate candidates for conversions to hotels, but the most opportunities are discovered in office buildings. According to CBRE, there currently is more than a 17% vacancy rate in office buildings, the highest vacancy rate since 1993. Developers are looking for different uses to breathe new life into these structures. If positioned in appropriate locations, hoteliers can creatively adapt these structures into hotels, including limited-service, full-service, and boutique hotels.